The Los Angeles Lakers’ search for a new head coach is irrelevant as LeBron James does not allow coaches to implement their offensive systems
"Monty Williams has a stronger-than-expected shot at the job because some in the Lakers’ organization may fear hiring Lue would be giving LeBron too much control."
This was said by Marc Stein of the New York Times in regards to who the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to hire as their next head coach. Unfortunately, one can argue that the organization’s search for a new head coach is irrelevant as LeBron James does not allow coaches to implement their offensive systems.
LeBron has a habit of dominating the basketball when he is on the court which does not give coaches an opportunity to install their offense. One example of this is when LeBron dribbles the ball to the 3-point line and analyzes the entire defense. If one of the defenders is sagging off a shooter, he will pass the basketball to the shooter for an open 3-pointer.
On the other hand, if everyone stays home, he will study everything about his defender to determine the next course of action. If the defender decided to sag off of him, LeBron would take the open jumper. But, if the defender played him tight, he will attempt to drive towards the basket for a score, to draw a foul or attract a double team.
This offense has played a major part in LeBron averaging 82.68 touches per game (77 + 81.9 + 78.1 + 88.1 + 87.1 + 83.9)/6 over the past six NBA seasons. LeBron’s habit of dominating the ball diminishes a team’s ability to incorporate ball movement into their offense. In fact, the Lakers averaged 7.2 fewer passes per game after they acquired LeBron going from 282.1 to 274.9.
However, it becomes an entirely different story when head coaches don’t have LeBron James on their roster anymore. One example of this was the first six games of this season when his former coach Tyronn Lue decided to incorporate more ball movement into the offensive system.
For instance, during a road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, George Hill dribbled the basketball to the 3-point line. Once this happened, he passed the ball to Rodney Hood who was standing on the right wing.
Hood immediately passed the basketball to Tristan Thompson who was standing at the top of the key. Tristan proceeded to give the ball to Cedi Osman who stood on the left-wing. Cedi held the basketball until Kevin Love navigated his way from the right block to the free throw line.
Once Love received the basketball, he ended the possession by missing a mid-range jumper from the free throw line. The offensive adjustment resulted in the Cleveland Cavaliers making 5.7 more passes per game as they went from 273.3 to 279. Not only did the adjustment help with passing but it decreased the touches per game for the first option as Love averaged 69.3 touches during that span.
This was a decrease of 17.8 touches from the previous season as LeBron averaged 87.1 per game.
Therefore, the public would be better off not talking about who will be the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers as it won’t have a significant impact on their style of play.
In reality, the public should shift all their conversations to what type of players the organization will bring in this summer as they try to inch closer to championship contention (How the Lakers can build a championship contender).